Alabama has taken the crown previously held by Mississippi as the most conservative state in the union, according to a new Gallup poll. Last year the top four were Mississippi, Utah, and Wyoming, with Alabama coming in fourth. Overall, Americans in 2012 remained more likely to identify as conservative (38%) than as moderate (36%) or as liberal (23%), although liberals have gained 2 percentage points compared to 2011.

On the liberal side, the medalists have gotten stronger. Washington DC, Massachusetts, and Oregon, the 2011 liberal top three, retain their titles in 2012, as more residents identify as liberal than the prior year. Residents of Washington DC are more liberal than the highest state, Massachusetts, by over ten percentage points.

Below are Gallup’s top ten most conservative and top ten most liberal states in the union.

Top 10 Most Conservative

1. Alabama–50.6% conservative

2. North Dakota (tie)–48.6%

2. Wyoming (tie)–48.6%

4. Mississippi–48.2%

5. Utah–48.0%

6. Oklahoma–47.3%

7. Idaho–47.1%

8. Louisiana–45.6%

9. Nebraska (tie)–45.3%

9. Arkansas (tie)–45.5%

Top 10 Most Liberal

1. District of Columbia–40.8% liberal

2. Massachusetts 30.5%

3. Oregon 29.3%

4. Vermont 29.2%

5. Delaware (tie)–28.4%

5. Connecticut (tie)–28.4%

6.Washington (tie)–28.3%

6. Rhode Island (tie)–28.3%

7. Hawaii (tie)–27.7%

7. New York (tie)–27.7%

Gallup’s results were based on telephone interviews conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2012, with a random sample of 211,972 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Margins of error for individual states are no greater than ±6 percentage points, and are ±3 percentage points in most states. The margin of error for the District of Columbia is ±6 percentage points.

I understand that Alabama is the most conservative, one because back then long ago the state Alabama was very racist and they were very discriminating. Lets not forget about the Bible Belt, that name came from 1607- 1776. The Bible Belt is an informal term for a region in the south-eastern and south-central United States in which socially conservativeevangelicalProtestantism is a significant part of the culture and Christian church attendance across the denominations is generally higher than the nation's average. This makes me think back to my Us history class and remember everything we learned, also thinking about how Alabama and all the other southern states many older elderly people and church folks live there, so there beliefs are more towards the U.S. being more Republican, showing that the world needs to be rational on our decisions and showing that we could fix our problems without the Government. But also punishing people/ criminals harshly not giving them a chance to fix what they did. I'm not the smartest girl i'm a junior in high school and still learning but that my opinion on Alabama being conservative. please don't be rude and disrespectful because i'm not being rude.

Alabama is the most conservative state but does not rank in the top ten food stamps states as does Washington D.C.the most liberal area of the country. Washington, D.C. leads the nation, with 21.5% of the population on food stamps. http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/21/news/economy/food_stamps/index.htm. Or the 3rd most liberal state of Oregon. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/13/10-states-with-the-greatest-food-stamps_n_860233.html As a native San Franciscan I have seen what liberal politics have done to the once great state of California. I am proud to call my adopted State of Alabama the most conservative. The bias in the liberal press against southern states is well known; and tell me when was the last time a Gay person was lynched in Alabama? You only show your ignorance when you make such statements. Back what you say with real facts and not liberal rhetoric.

There is a correlation here that no sane, decent person with a brain can deny: Massachusetts is the most liberal state, and it also ranks as one of the most, if not the most educated states, one of the wealthiest, and has a high quality of life. Alabama is the most conservative state, and it consistently ranks as one of the poorest and least educated states with one of the highest rates of divorce and teen pregnancy. And this is supposed to be a very "Christian" state? Of course, it is only "Christian" in the sense that they will lynch any homosexual and abortion is virtually inaccessible. This state which is opposed to "big govt" also has the highest percent of people on food stamps. Irony? Only a conservative with the thickest skull could try to deny or rationalize why it has nothing to do with conservatism. Let's face it, if everyone was conservative, we would be back in the Middle Ages in no time. Thank goodness for the percentage of the population that is moderate/liberal. They are the ones who keep this country up and running!

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Statistics show that the "Bible Belt" has the highest rates of divorce, teen pregnancy, STDs, violent crime, high school drop-outs, and government assistance. If you're happy in Georgia or Alabama or Mississippi, then good for you - just don't expect everyone else to agree that you're living in paradise. I've lived from Seattle to Nashville and points in between. I can't get out of the south fast enough.

You do know bamaron that what people like YOU do is make assertions and then find the articles to back them up, right? You could make it look like Einstein killed Kennedy in such a way if you tried hard enough. But people like you will never learn--because whatever YOU WANT to believe, you'll try you damnedest to CONFIRM however you can.

Foodstamps, eh? How about altogether WELFARE. Red states RANK MOST ON TOP. Try this:

Why don't you try what those of us you've label 'liberal' do (even though we ARE NOT and ARE MOST OFTEN MODERATES): we OBSERVE what is going on AND THEN make assertions. I'm sure this falls on deaf ears of course.

@LisaMartin the alabanjians are stupid redneck retards! red states are nothing more than breeding grounds for cousin-cousin and sister-brother marriages. now you no why they are against abortion! they don't want to lose their ability to "keep" it in the family!

@LisaMartin Oh Lisa. Very nice comments. You look so young and cute and smart and trendy in your picture. Did you ever stop to consider that it takes many types of people to make this world go round. Who farms the food that you nibble at in your fancy restaurants? Yep, not a Harvard grad...but I bet you are glad they work their fingers to the bones growing it don't you? Who protects your freedom to bash those farmers, and those factory workers that make your goods? Yep, it's guys like me that have served in our military to preserve those rights. I appreciate that you spend mom and dad's money at Yale, researching the shortcomings of the red states, and spending time with your sorority sisters making fun of southerners and Christians. . Even though you are too good for religion, God bless you Lisa Martin. You make this world a better place.

@LuckyDuck the banjo belt is full of nothing but inbred rednecks who want to push their rebel agenda on minorities and the poor. well red state rednecks how does it feel to lose? you might have your guns, but you don't have the power! your obstructionism is running thin. time to pay up!

You should kick us out of your union of states then. If we're that awful it sounds like we're doing nothing but syphoning off of your states potential success. Why in the world would you ever put up with that from us? Yeah, I would definitely recommend you drop us all out of your union and let us just try to figure it out on our own. Probably best for both of us. Yup.

Interesting 3 of 4 citations are from The NY times the liberal biased paper in the country. But I would expect no less than that from someone who would say " You could make it look like Einstein killed Kennedy in such a way if you tried hard enough" Where do people like you come up with such nonsense? LOL

As for progress we manufacure Hondas, Mercedes, Kias. The Huntsville's Marshall Space Flight Center help put the man on the moon and recently developed one of the most sophisticated satellites in the world. http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/11/nasa_in_huntsville_celebrates.html Not to mention UAB advances in AIDs treatment ande other major medical breakthroughs. Progress my friend is not limited to the biased liberal "progressive" states.

@aztecian@LisaMartin Holy cow aztecian, I read down and found yet another post from you about cousin love. You must have a dirty little secret to tell. However kid, this is definitely the wrong forum to be sharing those kinds of stories. There are other, less tainted kids like LisaMartin reading these posts and regurgitating crap that her 'progressive' professor was spewing down at the Jr. College.

@Libtards-UNITE@LisaMartin -- hahaha you are such a moron. Way to spin things in the most idiotic of ways while adults are actually making points. Why don't you try to address those points instead of just saying ANYTHING and not realizing how stupid are are/sound.

@Libtards-UNITE@LisaMartin you don't even know what uR are talking about! since when do rednecks pick food in this country? since when do rednecks work their fingers to the bone? southern christian values are nothing more than anti-progressive and obstructionist!

"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that
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Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it
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Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give
me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry

@LibertyMinded They care too much for that. They are going to help you whether you like it or need it, at least that is what the bumper sticker says.

In reality they need forced participation in their Ponzi schemes or the house of cards collapses and they are left with very lovely, entitlement-minded folks with no where to live, nothing to eat and a massive sense of superiority. Not a pretty sight.

@Libtards-UNITE@LuckyDuck If we had enough conservatives making policy, we'd eventually be back to the Dark Ages. Though they don't do well to hide their intolerance and violent tempers... example as seen above.

@Libtards-UNITE@LuckyDuck let's see going to a state where everyone is a cousin and "deliverance" is played out in every dark corner. yeah...we'll make sure to get of the STD breeding grounds of the hypocritical bible thumpers.

These programs make people dependent on the Federal Government and as such they will vote for those who support those very programs that are bankrupting our country. When the Feds offer handouts there will always be those who will take them. But most in the south believe in self-sufficiency and LIBERTY.

@bamaron If you weren't so stupid, you'd realize that I was mimicking and deriding your own confirmation bias, as I stated above. Learn to read, first of all.

Second, I don't hear you arguing against the content despite the source. Since you can't, all you do is attack the source and say some other garbage without substance. We see right through you. Thank you for being the voice of 'your side'. You do us all a service in your failings and idiocy.

@Libtards-UNITE@aztecian@LisaMartin First, let me thank you for your service to our country. Second, I'd like to point out that I come from a VERY liberal state and it's not easy swimming in this pool of intellectually inbred half-wits. I have yet to argue a point with a Lib that didn't very quickly decend into them calling me a name (racist is popular these days) but I don't mind. That's when I know I've won the debate. God bless the South, my heart will always be in Dixie!

@Libtards-UNITE@aztecian@LisaMartin uR just a right wingnut...thinking you know everything. all you have is the religious right to cry for. you'll see, your breed and ignorance are dying off. your obstructionist ideals are failing.

@aztecian@Libtards-UNITE@LisaMartin you seem to know a lot about rednecks and inbreeding. Thanks for the lesson. I have farmed. I have served my country in the US Army. I have a degree in Finance. I have spent time in the blue states, and overseas. You aztecian are the one who knows nothing of the world you claim to know so much about. Keep spewing your ignorance. I'll keep laughing at you.

@JackLevitt@LibertyMinded Speaking of entitlements, the most conservative states in the country also contribute the least and consume the most. Entitlements indeed... but at least that permeating ignorance keeps them feeling righteous.

@Heian@Libtards-UNITE@LuckyDuck You're right. I'll be honest, dumb country folk like me don't really care for people like you. And yes, while you were counting your money and making fun of hillbillies in starbucks, I would probably come in and punch you in the face. Many times.